Combined cleaning and drying implement for venetian blinds



Dec. 23, 1952 M. VOJACEK 2,622,256

COMBINED CLEANING AND DRYING IMPLEMENT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Feb. 14, 1947 I Nib 0 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 I UNITED STATE COMBINED CLEANING AND DRYING IMPLEMENT FOR VENE'IIAN BLINDS Mary Vojacek, Chicago, Ill. 7

Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,397 1 Claim. (c1. 15-113) This invention relates to an improved cleaning element for Venetian blinds, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for efficiently cleaning Venetian blinds and particularly the slats thereof.

It is well known that the cleaning of Venetian blinds presents quite a problem in that they are difiicult of access and the operation, when accomplished by ordinary methods, is tedious and usually unsatisfactory in final results.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide, in a single implement, means for preliminarily soaping or otherwise cleaning the surfaces of the slats of a Venetian blind, and subsequently drying the same with the same implement and in practically the same operation.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a cleaning element for Venetian blinds which will simultaneously clean both the upper and under surfaces of the slat of such a blind, and which cleaning operation can be accomplished in a minimum time and with a very slight expenditure of effort.

Another and still further important object of the invention is to provide a cleaning element for Venetian blinds which is so constructed that it will automatically adapt itself to cleaning the areas of those portions of the slats through which the supporting rope extends and wherein this cleaning operation is accomplished at the same time as cleaning operations on the remaining surfaces and without the use of any special attachment.

Still another object is to provide a cleaner for Venetian blind, the operative elements of which can be readily removed from the main supporting structure for convenient cleaning or even for replacement purposes.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved Venetian blind cleaner of this invention, showing the same as being used in connection with one of the slats of a Venetian blind.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, somewhat enlarged 2 showing one of the end plates of the cleaning structure and illustrates more particularly the means for fastening the cleaning or drying element to such a plate.

Figure 4 is a side view of the end plate shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view, somewhat similar to Figure 4, but illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numerals Hi and i2 indicate two arms of the structure of the Venetian blind cleaner of this invention, the arms being preferably of metal and also preferably shaped as shown in Figure 2 for more convenient operation of the apparatus. The arms are pivotally joined at 14 adjacent their middle portions.

Mounted on the juxtaposed ends of the arms at one terminus of the handle structure which the arms comprise, is a pair of plates l6 and it which plates may be of any suitable or desired material, but which preferably are composed of plastic, and one which is easily shaped to conform to desired requirements.

As will be noted from the sectional view of Figure 2, the plates 16 and 18 are somewhat curved in order to conform generally to the curvature of the slat of an ordinary Venetian blind such as is indicated in the dotted lines and also in the dash lines at 26. This curvature may vary in blinds of different manufacturers, but not sufficiently to interfere with the eflicient operation of the device of this invention.

Mounted on the inner juxtaposed faces of the supporting plates l6 and I8, is a pair of cleaning elements indicated at 22 and these may comprise any suitable material, but is preferably composed of layers or pads of sponge rubber which is fastened to the plates in any suitable manner, preferably by means of some attaching means such as rivets 24. These rivets are usually hollow as indicated at Figure 3, but obviously some other suitable attaching means may be provided.

The plates l6 and I8 are also provided with openings for drain holes as indicated at 26, whereby any excess moisture which collects in the pads 22 may be drained off, or squeezed out in an obvious manner.

Mounted at the other end of the handles I0 and I 2, is a pair of plates 30 and 32 which are quite similar to the plates it and I8 both, in

size, shape and configuration. Affixed to these plates is a pair of wiping or drying pads 34 and 38 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 and these pads are preferably composed of some suitable textile material which readily absorbs moisture and which therefore can be used as quick drying means.

Rivets 38 are employed to fasten the pads 34 in position on plates 30 and 32 and openings or holes for drainage and evaporation are provided as shown at 40.

It will be noted that all of the plates l6, I8, 30 and 32 are provided with semi-circular cut-away portions on each side, as indicated at 42. These are for the purpose of enabling the cleaning and wiping elements to completely cover the slats 23 even at areas adjacent the cords 44 which pass through the usual openings 48 in the slats. The indentations 42 are of a. sufiicient depth to allow for complete coverage of the areas adjacent the cords 44 and the openings 4B, especially when the cleaning element is applied to the slat, first on one side of the cord and its opening, and then on the other side, which action is necessary in any event when the end of the slat is cleaned.

The supporting plates I6, [8, 30 and 32 are normally, permanently aflixed to the ends of the handles I and [2 by means of rivets 50 which may be provided with covering heads 52 if desired for neatness and appearance.

However, the plates, such as that shown in i8 in Figure 5, may be removably mounted on the ends of the handles by means of headed bolts or screws 60 provided with suitable slotted nuts 82, whereby a screw driver or other convenient tool may be employed for removing the nut 62 from V the bolt. The nuts are preferably tapered as illustrated in Figure 5, and adapted to fit into a correspondingly counter-sunk recess in the plate 18, whereby a secure attachment results and one which maintains the plate in position without any danger of its wabbling or becoming loose in operation.

It will be evident that herein is provided a cleaning device for Venetian blinds and the like which will speedily and thoroughly clean the slats of such blinds and which, on account of the configuration of the supporting handles, can be readily manipulated by one hand, while the other hand of the operator is engaged in holding the particular slat to be cleaned. The cleaning elements 22 are first moistened with water and some other suitable cleaning element such as soap or the like, after which they are simultaneously applied to opposite faces of a slat, as shown in Figure 2, and sufiicient pressure can be applied while the device is moved over the surfaces of the slat to-satisfactorily remove dust, dirt and the like. The semicircular openings 42 in the edges of the plates, allow of a ready coverage of the areas adjacent the supporting cords 4'4 and the ends of the slats 20 may be cleaned in the same manner after the cleaning operation has been accomplished on the central portion of the slat.

The soap and water or other cleaning materials employed in conjunction with the sponge rubber pads 22, can then be wiped on and the slat left clean and dry by application of the absorbent pads 34 and 36 which are attached to the plate 30 and 32 respectively at the other ends of the handles l0 and I2. This is accomplished by simply reversing the position of the device in the hand of the operator.

The entire apparatus is simple and readily constructed, easily operated, quite inexpensive, but at the same time will perform its desired function in a very eflicient manner and with a considerable saving of time.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A cleaning element for Venetian blinds including a pair of handles offset with respect to each other, a pivot means joining the handles adjacent their middles, cleaning and drying means on the handles, each of said cleaning and drying elements including a supporting plate removably aifixed to its respective handle, cooperative cleaning pads mounted on the inner faces of two of said plates and cooperativedrying pads similarly mounted on the other plates, all of said plates bein curved to correspond with the curvature of the slat of the blind to be cleaned, rivets for attaching the pads to the plates, ventilating and draining openings in the plates, the plates being semi-circularly cut away at each side to provide for the reception of the supporting cords of the blindstructure, whereby a cleaning and drying operation can be accomplished under the area adjacent said supporting cords, and screws for removably mounting the plates with their associated pads on the ends oi the handles.

MARY VOJACEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 654,486 Pederson July .21, .1900 1,538,740 Petersen May .19., 1925 1,708,728 Kilbride Apr. 9, 1929 1,788,846 Schempp Jan. 13, 1931 1,802,206 Freuder Apr..2l., .1931 2,003,629 Coffey June 4, 1935 2,276,078 Marks et al Mar. 10, 1942 2,413,854 Berger Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 463,740 Norway July 29, 1929 92,054 Sweden Apr. 21, 193-8 563,697 Great Britain Aug. 28,1944 

